Just got off the phone with Joel Turner, the agent for safety Ryan Clark, who probably isn’t very popular with Miami Dolphins fans right now.

Clark spent all day Monday at the Dolphins’ facility in Davie. He came to town on a free-agent visit saying he had every intention of signing as Gibril Wilson’s replacement if things went well.

And then, after he went back to his hotel at the end of a long day of physical examination (which he passed) and get-to-know-you discussions, he called Turner and told him to make a deal that would keep him with the Steelers.

Family considerations and loyalty to an organization that took him from anonymous grinder to Super Bowl champion were the driving factors in that phone call.

Clark signed back with the Steelers for four more years, leaving the Dolphins back at square one in their search for an upgrade at free safety.

“This is no indictment in any way of the Dolphins organization,” Turner said. “He just didn’t want to be there.”

Clark arrived on Sunday night and had plenty of time to get the feel of the Dolphins and their plans for him.

“Those guys were great,” Turner said. “They treated him great, showed him a good time. They’re going to be successful with him or without him. He just felt he needed to be somewhere else.”

That somewhere else was Pittsburgh, where his wife and three young children have become extremely comfortable.

“They’re happy,” Turner said. “I would hope anybody with a family could understand that. Anybody who doesn’t have a family and can’t understand that, I hope someday they will.”

How close did Clark come to becoming a Dolphin?

“I don’t know if you can quantify that,” Turner said.

Was there ever a point Monday or even earlier where Turner thought his client was going to be a Dolphin?

“I can’t honestly say that,” he said. “There was never an agreement in principle or otherwise.”

And while Turner wouldn’t confirm any details of the Steelers deal beyond the four-year term, he said Clark “probably did” leave some money on the table with this decision.

What happened between the time Clark left the Dolphins and made that call back to his agent?

“Pretty much he left the facility and went back to the hotel to get his belongings together,” Turner said. “He just had to have some time to himself to think about things.”

Clark reportedly told Fox 31 in Denver that “in the end both sides got what they wanted,” speaking of the Steelers. “My plan was to retire a Steeler. It took a little longer than I wanted it to to get this deal done.”

Monday afternoon, the Steelers signed former Buccaneers safety Will Allen — different guy — but left room for Clark just in case.

In the end, as Clark headed for the airport, it was up to Turner to make the difficult call to Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland.

“He handled it like you’d expect a professional to do,” Turner said. “There are good people in this business and real good people. Jeff is definitely one of the latter.”

Remember, Turner also represents Dolphins backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen. It wouldn’t behoove him to “use” the Dolphins just to get a better deal for Clark back in Pittsburgh, and Turner made it clear to Ireland that wasn’t what happened here.

“I told him just what it is,” Turner said. “I said, ‘Sorry we couldn’t make this thing work. Hope to do some more business with you later.’ ”

So how do you feel about Ryan Clark now? And who would you go after next to fill that free safety spot?

Comments (286 Comments)

Sharper- 1 or 2 year deal, draft a safety to learn from him or let our current guys learn from him if we have confidence in them being able to take over when he’s gone.

Atogwe- 3-4 year deal bring in and just let our current safeties learn under him, maybe take someone late.

Brodney Poole- bring in on a 5 year deal and at 25 he’ll be the best fs on the team and have plenty of room to grow. He’s quick for his 6-2 210 lb frame… Yet he’s more of a cover safety who can make a play on the ball.

If we don’t bring one of these guys in, i’ll be very interested to see what we do on draft day.

i’ve narrowed the list to one of these players being our 12 th pick what i’m wondering is who has the highest percentage of being that player and who is the longshot? ( left out mcclain with the dansby deal!)

Your order is pretty much how I would say it should be , with Thomas on high watch to move up, even to the top.
I’m still thinking we should move up to 5th spot or above (in my fantasy) and move our second for Olsen. Two guaranteed players. Two moves.
We need to spice up deals with our mid to low round picks and get a few good men not just sort thru extra average players.

i would hope they dont go with jpp with that pick …hell he jus ran the 40 fast enough … al davis is licking his chops….i think he is going to be a project to be picked that high isnt right…i would say miami trades down to get more picks and takes olb or wr in first

yeah but barring a trade down i’m wondering if we can get a consensus on who the favorite is right on down to the longshot, and maybe a player that i’m not aware of that should be on this list! is this the correct list is there a player missing?

lol ok just wondering who Ahab was.I think with Marshall will probably be going to the seahawks.Denver will be able to draft Mcclain along with Dez.So imho I think it’s down to Morgan(Kind of a sleeper) and Thomas with the 12th pick.

Why do so many FA spurn the Awfulins?
Burp! No peek engles, maybe, Parcells has bad breath? Too many nuts on the road.
Whatever it is the awfulins are hexed.
A key was get-to-know-you discussions, after that he left and decided to play in steel city. We know the awfulins are cheap..even Rolle mentioned that..and they are scrooges.
The again he doesn’t deserve to be the highest paid safety, remember the Giants paid wilson a load.
On Clark, without polumolu the steeler pass defense blew, even with a pass rush..so i would pay polumolu a boatload not a clark bar.
The awfulins are back to goin through garbage bins and trash cans lookin for a safety. BURP!

There’s a lot of free agency left before the draft. I think with Ferguson’s injury and now his suspension for the first 8 games, the NT position becomes more critical to address in the draft. However, I keep reading that Dan Williams is a reach at #12. I think the Dolphins can get good value with a Cam Thomas in rounds 2 or 3. I can still see them trading down or taking McClain, Earl Thomas, Brandon Graham, or Derrick Morgan in round 1. I have seen Dan Williams go to the Dolphins at #12 in some mock drafts however. Didn’t look like he did anything to hurt his draft stock during the Combine.

mf 13 i dont think we take mcclain with the dansby aquisition! maybe kindle should be on the list, i think he ran a 4.72 and had off the field issues (dui) as for thomas definitley a contender to be the pick lets just say mcclain is gone i guess your choice would be thomas?

Good, better to find out now then to have to deal with him acting out mid-way through the season. Free agency just started they have plenty time to search for players that want to be here…. No harm no foul good luck to you Ryan.

Yeah, the Awfulins are trash tawkers, They were sayin how they’d like braylon edwards and he signs with the JETS and so now he sucks.
The problem is they get it wrong.. edwards played great ball and had some of the best stats in the playoffs.
Now they’re sayin Cromartie sucks.. cant wait till he gets his first Henne int and runs it back for a TD. The guy has 4.3 speed burp!

Look in the mirror, JetTroll. Over paying for Edwards and giving up picks like “Weiner SanCheesy”, simply shows a downtrodden franchise desperately hiring anyone at all cost. Yea, BlowMartie runs a 4.3……away from his girlfriends, his illegitimate kids and the law. BagBalm and Crew actually believe they’re a player away. Ha!Ha! Keep drinkin’ the piss green gatorade. They keep mortgaging their none future. Love it! One question, folks, which explosive event occurs first, the PaperFlamers or Cryin’ Ryan, going up in smoke. Pffft!. You make the call.

We were Parcelled. Say one thing to get your value up, so the Steelers will pay him more. We were a tool used for negotiations. He was obvious when he said he hopes to play for Miami. When does someone say that stuff before a negotiation. You don’t show your hand to a team you want to sign a deal with. He did what Parcells does a lot in negotiating either for himself or signing or drafting players for the team. Bottomline Clark wanted to sign with the Steelers all along.

if you hate the fins so much why are you here you tard do-da-do.go to the jet site were im sure they are all talking superbowl.at least there are no fin fans there trashing the wets,becuase we know you all are in trouble giving away all of your picks…and more importantly we dont feel threatened by you.losers burp boip fart jaba the hut aighttt

I honestly do not care much, as far as unrestricted free agent safety’s, I think the dolphins screwed up by not giving Rolle a few more millions, which he would have taken from miami and chosen miami over the giants if the dollars were the same…

Really I felt clark would have been a bad move, his health issues are down right scary and although he is in his prime, those health issues can come back at any time…Truly I never saw him as a play maker, his size was decent at best at 5′10 and he is not one of the fastest guys on the field, he is a big hitter who is solid at what he does, probably not worth the trouble, he was helped by Polumalu more than anything…

We need to get Atowge or draft a safety (thomas, mays, or berry) but getting Atowge would be better so we can get another OLB like the one from Texas or get a WR or a NT…hopefully the fins step up

A lot of people on this blog weren’t happy when we started talking about signing Clark… a few like me who did like him, still like him and wish we had been able to sign him. So not sure what you Jet dweebs are on about.

All of u ppl saying “draft mcclain” r seriously stupid… Newsflash: WE JUST SIGNED DANSBY! Now our ILB corp is looking like dansby and crowder — a hell of alot better than crowder and ayodele! Now we dont need mcclain even tho i love him.

I strongly believe we should and will go after a NT (dan williams in particular). It wouldnt b too early to draft this guy and fergie is out for 8 games now… I would hav said draft him even before the suspension.

But anyway, i am let down about this guy but i think clemons could suprise many ppl in the starting role and he’s better than wilson and clark in coverage.

I think we’ll go after atogwe at some point, but mite not even get him… If we dont get him then CLEMONS WILL DEFINITELY BE THE STARTER IN 2010, no matter who we draft cuz it wont be in the 1st round

In the 2nd round i think we’ll go after a WR like demaryius thomas — i like this kid.

There’s a lot of free agency left before the draft. I think with Ferguson’s injury and now his suspension for the first 8 games, the NT position becomes more critical to address in the draft. However, I keep reading that Dan Williams is a reach at #12. I think the Dolphins can get good value with a Cam Thomas in rounds 2 or 3. I can still see them trading down or taking McClain, Earl Thomas, Brandon Graham, or Derrick Morgan in round 1. I have seen Dan Williams go to the Dolphins at #12 in some mock drafts however. Didn’t look like he did anything to hurt his draft stock during the Combine.

REPLY
trading down is easier said than done with fergy gone it prioritizes NT! theres a reason williams is rated in the top 20, seems to me at this point to be the favorite, graham is too short for parcells he isn’t considered! mcclain either with the aquisition of dansby, thomas and morgan could be possible at 12!

Like I said in a earlier post, sometimes you better take a player when you want him. No one cares later what round you got him. We need a true nose, if we pass, you are likely kissing Williams good bye. I cannot argue with the pick of Williams until maybe 3 years from now. He is a need, they got to work with him. I would have to have him at the top of the list. A NT is now so critical it is the main reason I say to trade up to top 5-Suh or MCoy with a Spiller bonus if they were gone. You have my vote on D.Williams at the top of my Maimi mock at 12. (subject to change)

If Pennington to start I say bring Coles to Miami..Coles anyways. The Cincinnati thing is not to judge by. Wrong place wrong time applies.
You can always cut him…its about depth and some veteran leadership this time of year. All for Coles and trading for Olsen and not worrying about a WR in the draft. The drafts focus needs to be D anyways.

HeatDolphans#1 says:
March 8, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Rob I don’t know why you want to reach for Williams imo it can be risky to reach for a player.

heat every one wants a playmaker and to see this 327 lbs dude dancing around with 2 ol aint pretty! but it’s a crucial need at this time! every one is talking about cam in the 2nd he is rated where he is for a reason and williams also! invest in the most important position on d is my motto! i dont think it’s a reach at all i hear all this but he will be gone no later than 20 and thats not reaching!

Rob… every year there are players ranked in the top round that completely never amount to anything… Where was Vernon Gholston on those big boards, how many players lower than him are now better players?

that is true tryp but the trio doesnt seem to make these mistakes, i’m not saying their perfect nobody is, and i’m not saying williams is the guy! i’m just saying from where i sit he looks to be the favorite.

The Jets are lookin for Taylor Mays if he drops or Dunlap, primarily a pass rushing OLB-DE there are several and some could be had in the second round.
Word has it the cardinals up thier aante for Rhodes when rolle signed with Giants.
Jets got a 4th and a 7th rounder for rhodes.

thats so mays and gholston can sit on the bench together and play friggin pattie cake …. dont come here and talk trash to miami fans cause you would be pissed too if someone was there using the jets as a way to get your original team to chalk up some extra dough …and this is an example i hate revis (cause he is a jet) i would love revis if he were a dolphin

I know we have to be patient but to see all the wide outs being signed is discouraging, certainly the big tuma has to know the fins need a nig time wr, after all sparano said all year long the team needed chunk yardage, so ehats the problem? Why havent we heard about amy bid attempts for any of the wrs? Are we to believe the fins are going to stay with the same group again? Dont get me wrong i like hartline alot, and bess and camarillo, but they need a big physical wr!!! Every fin fan knows this!

i still like williams due to fergys situation, added kindle although with his (dui) and on a seperate incident running into a building seems he has issues that might lower him on their board and he is the slowest of the three de/olb’s!

Rob… every year there are players ranked in the top round that completely never amount to anything… Where was Vernon Gholston on those big boards, how many players lower than him are now better players?

I totally agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In 2007 you passed on Patrick Willis for Ted Ginn and to top it off in the second round you passed on Lamar Woodley sacker for the steelers for BECK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about Stupid~~~~Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! You wouldn’t be goin through all this linebacker crap if it wasn’t for lousy personell decisions, Lamar fletcher instead of Brees????????? LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!

you should quit jerk’n off and get relevent dude! who gives a rats ass what happened 5 years ago! were talking what the trio is currently up against! say something that matters willya! quit being so vindictive! i know it still hurts but get use to it cause were gonna sweep you again!!!

Are any of these guys busts yet? no not at all… but they were all ranked 1st rounders. If you draft Dan Williams only because it’s an urgent need and we expect him to make an immediate impact well… you may be sorely disappointed in how immediate that impact is.

i was talking with joe w the other day a guest speaker for omar and he was telling me williams is impressive! he keeps his shoulders square to the line has good lateral movement and has tremendous push! when playing beside cody, williams was getting double teamed! really though who knows? i’m sure the trio have their opinion of him whether it’s good or bad, it’s all speculation at this point, in my opinion he should be the favorite!

Well, when somebody mentions Gholston I get a little agitated..you can understand that..Eh Rob?
I’d have to say the doofins will pick Dan Williams in the first, an OLB in the second and a safety in the third. Even though you need a receiver, it isn’t a priority from the doofins from what i heard. They’ve invest two picks last year.
They’ll pickup a RB and a receiver later in the draft.

JetTroll is a complete ToolBag! Trying to build up the downtrodden squad from the swamps of new jersey by trashin’ the Fins. He then has the audacity to come back and posts later like he never did anything, Toolness to the Max. An absolute jerk either bipolar or is suffering from CRS (Can’t remember Shite)and actually talks football or least he thinks so. How can anyone respect this AzzClown?

everyone!!!! go look at the steelers comments about the fins on the “clark spurns dolphins” story and remind them that the fins beat the steelers in two afc championship games, and put them in their place. they are talking all kinds of SH!T about the fins. Step up fins fans!!!!

If we aren’t moving up and not worth moving down maybe its time to go after Vincent Jackson or Miles Austin…….high stakes- you get what you pay for. Olsen with our second. Draft NT, S and OLB.
Now thats moving and shaking.

Weatherspoon is a tackling machine!!!!
155 tackles in his junior season….
Has one heck of a motor….
Versatile….. can play both inside/outside lb
Phins can use his character, leadership skills and his tackles/sacks

can make an immediate impact to the Lb position….
(so I say 100% Spoon)

JT is in his last 1 to 2 years…(if he even comes back)
Wake is a good pass rusher… But needs help stopping the run….

LOL @ Jet fans!!! You guys have nothing better to do… and talking about another franchise being awful. Look at your own franchise you stupid #@&*$!!! One good year and you bring this!! LOL!!!! Go worry about your own team… losers. Actually, worry about your life because your wife is probably banging another man while you sit at the computer on a rival teams home paper.

JetTule. If the NOT YETS don’t consider the Fins their rival then why do you azzwipes come on here talkin’ smack. Just a little clue-in for you. Are any Bill or Patriot Fans regulars on here? Nooooooooo. That is why you and your downtrodden bunch will never get respect. Remember this: To Talk shite you must first do shite.

Its a passing league. Wake is fine and needs to be rushing the passer in this pass happy league. No more “2 down” linemen theory for me. Get in the backfield. Wake given the reps will be a sack leader…mark my words.
He will be fine. We will be drafting JT’s replacement and he isn’t going to go just yet so I doubt the #1 pick will be a OLB. I’m starting to really like my theory of moving our picks for a RFA WR and Olsen or be moving up for McCoy / Suh – forget trading down or picking at 12.

LOL @ Jet fans!!! You guys have nothing better to do… and talking about another franchise being awful. Look at your own franchise you stupid #@&*$!!! One good year and you bring this!! LOL!!!! Go worry about your own team… losers. Actually, worry about your life because your wife is probably banging another man while you sit at the computer on a rival teams home paper.
SEE ROB, this is why I have to get unruly, I have to putup with these barfbags, since they have no idea what I mean by losers, they think it’s personal.
I’d like to be somewhat civil, and just talk football, but these guys come outta knowhere, But whatever, they can mouth off, it’d free Airspace. Burp!

if tannenbaum would stop giving his picks away you wouldnt have to be looking to trade down! by the way hows lito sheppard working out for ya? ROB
I have no problem with what tannenbaum is doing. if you read the Jets webpage you’d see they didn’t have to pay shepard anything, so he’s toodleloo, and so is rhodes, we picked up two draft picks for him. I like Cromartie 25 and runs a 4.35 and had a hip injury last year. If you can get a young guys like Braylon and cromartie it’s worth it because it’s hard to find that caliber of player in the draft as you doofins have found out.

“I think Arizona’s position changed a little bit when they lost [Antrel] Rolle,” Tannenbaum said. “For us it was a combination of economics, the two draft choices we were able to receive a 4th and a 7th, and the fact that we like the depth at that position. … Once Rolle moved from Arizona to the Giants, that precipitated things moving quickly. Those are hard decisions, but again we felt it was in the best interests of the team.”

you were selling me this same story last year about sheppard?? theres a reason sd dumped cromartie we shall see!
Shepard was a former probowler with alot of yrs and mileage, Cromartie came in 2006 same as Jason allen

well it would be good to match up a good corner next to revis! but it still wont matter you know revis is gunshy of ted ginn! he said he wakes up from a nightmare once a week in a cold sweat seeing the back of #19 LOL!!!

There is nothing wrong with stop gap players… I don’t care what Kool-aid everyone has been drinking, NT’s need time to develop and work on technique more than almost any position. Whether we take Dan Williams, Cam Thomas, Torrell Troup, or someone else…. mark my words in a 3-4 they won’t be immediate upgrades over solai, they’ll need time. So, i’m all for a stop gap while they develop WHOEVER it is.

Water/ ocala rob , 1 int last year and a total of 2 the last 3 years. Also put on the video of mays at the combine backpeddling with his head down so he won’t fall down and almost falling down antway or him doing the pass coverage drills and cone drills. Any questions ?? GARBAGE!!

He was a free safety . He covers TE ??? really ?? i told you , he can’t cover my 90 year old grandma. He’s terrible in pass coverage. He will be a bust. You might put him out at SS But he’s straight line speed and you need to be more fluid and have good change of direction in run support. We don’t need SS. He will be a bust to below average player.

i agree use him however you can! he’s a hitter jersey!! i dont know where you get this from?? he scheduled to go late first rnd if he’s there at 43 we take him!!! did you watch the senior bowl?? i remember him hitting a rb and only glanced him and the guy was stunned!! he’s an intimidater!! if he hits you you’ll need help getting off the field!!!

Well… I just said linebacker’s, Urlacher was a safety until he came to the bears. Dansby Transitioned midway through college I believe.

Take a good long look at the USC linebacker’s that came out while Taylor Mays was there… they had studs at every position that came out last year, so of course they wouldn’t have moved him to linebacker during his time there.

I think Mays could be a ILB or OLB… of course it would be a project, but hell I think he’d be less of a project then Pat White is…

Lol, this is dumb… I’m not even saying we should draft him, I wouldn’t take him in the first round that’s for damn sure. I was just saying if someone was crazy enough to take that project on, you could end up with a freakish awesome lb. You said name one, i’m considering Brian Urlacher my one.

Urlacher played LB in college too. it wasn’t like he played S his in entire time there and then converted to LB in The NFL without having experience. MAYS never played lb at usc. he has no . it would be a total conversion from safety to LB.

lol… okay maybe I reached a little bit in saying lots have done it… but I was just speculating a way that you could capitalize on his size and speed while putting him in a position to have less responsibilities in coverage, which you are quick to point out he isn’t very good at. Either way, neither of us are interested in drafting him so it’s kind of a moot point, I was just putting on my that could be a fun experiment hat.

I didn’t like him before the senior bowl but decided to give him a chance during the senior bowl practices all week and then the game. He was horrible in pass coverage drills all week . Everybody covering the practices and scouts reported that. He has a bad tendency to go for the big hit instead of the INT or Tackle there for missing on both things to many times. He admits to it and he’s simply not a playmaker. In the game . i remember him getting run over and knocked on his back by a rb and also running up the wrong gap on on a run play. Both wereat the beginning of the game. The combine drill were just as awful.

With the 12th pick in the NFL Draft the Miami Dolphins select DEZ BRYANT!!!!
Jeff Ireland and Henne both said that they wanted to get that “playmaker” wr and don’t you think it’s kinda funny that we are sitting back watching all of these WR’s get traded and picked up in FA and not doing anything active for a wr? I bet 100% Dez Bryant is the pick. Earl Thomas is not worthy of the 12th overall pick and Mt. Cody or Cam Thomas can be had in the second round to fill the NT vacancy. There is a big drop off in receivers this year compared to NT. I would rather have Dez Bryant and Mt. Cody over Dan Williams and Damian Williams.

Plus… with a passing attack will open up the running game…
Making defenses “honest” fearing the long ball…
And taking those 8 or 9 out of the box!!!!

It’s time!!!

It’s time they take that chance and grab Dez Bryant at 12!!!

Yes, he’s a risk….
But with No Risk, No Reward!!!!

It’s time!!!!!

I’m going back from: I Want Spoon!!!! I Want Spoon!!!!
Back to: Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!!!

its a good thing that he didn’t sign – his style of play is one not compatible with a Nolan scheme FS (he uses Ed Reed/Renaldo Hill types). Otogwe is a better idea and hopefully we can get his signature.

Yep, I had some qualms too. He seemed like a better version fo Wilson, strong on the tackle but not in coverage. Given that we have Bell to do the sticking up front, what we need is a coverage safety (not that good tackling is unwelcome).

JohnnySambuca
March 9, 2010 at 3:15 am
Plus… with a passing attack will open up the running game…
Making defenses “honest” fearing the long ball…
And taking those 8 or 9 out of the box!!!!

It’s time!!!

It’s time they take that chance and grab Dez Bryant at 12!!!

Yes, he’s a risk….
But with No Risk, No Reward!!!!

It’s time!!!!!

I’m going back from: I Want Spoon!!!! I Want Spoon!!!!
Back to: Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!! Get Dez!!!!! Get Dez!!!!!

That’s it….. I’m done!!!!!!

Jets Suck
March 9, 2010 at 8:33 am
I’d rather take a risk on marshall johnny…

here’s what i think. Sean Smith’s natural position is safety, why not put Allen opposite Davis and move Smith to safety? He’s tall and can cover some ground. They can bring in a mid level corner or draft one they can develop and use when they have more db’s on the field.

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More